It’s a disposable item that only needs to be “replaced” every couple of months. Everybody uses them twice a day (or supposed to anyway). And they get a lot of wear and tear. From your teeth…

It’s your toothbrush! Disposable items in general have become an obsession of mine to either eliminate, cut down on, or find a more eco-friendly alternative of. We use 100% post consumer recycled toilet paper, cloth napkins instead of paper, and washable, microfiber cloths instead of paper towels most of the time. And instead of buying bulk plastic items like cutlery, cups, or plates (if it’s an occasion we can’t just use glass, stainless steel, or ceramic items we already own) we purchase the more expensive but worth it compostable brands. There are options, thankfully.

I have tackled other common disposable items, specifically razors and toothbrushes (next on my list is considering menstrual cups instead of tampons/sanitary pads), by switching to Preserve brand. They are made from 100% recycled plastic yogurt cups, BPA-free, and can be mailed back to the company to be recycled again. (I collect any regular toothbrushes given to us, by the dentist namely, and donate them to homeless shelters.)

And they work just as well as any other toothbrush. Except they spare the planet from more plastic pollution sitting in our landfills. Nothing makes me smile a more toothy grin than doing my part for the environment.

-Summer